System and Method for Selectively Transcoding Signal from One Format to One of Plurality of Formats

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for use with an input signal and a selecting signal. The input signal has a first format, and the selecting signal has a first state and a second state. The device comprises a receiving portion and a transcoder portion. The receiving portion can receive the input signal and output a received signal. The transcoder portion is arranged to receive the selecting signal and can output a first transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the first state and can output a second transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the second state. The first transcoded signal is based on the received signal and is in a second format. The second transcoded signal is based on the received signal and is in a third format, wherein the first format is different from the second format, the first format is different from the third format and the second format is different from the third format.

BACKGROUND

As technology has developed, the types of devices and media formats thatthose devices use has multiplied. In a single day, one can come intocontact with multiple presentations of the same data, served indifferent formats. For example, a person may watch the same newstransmission on a high definition television, a cellphone or on alaptop. All these devices would be presenting the same data, but usingdifferent transmission formats. Each of these transmission formats musttake the original source format, such as high definition television, anduse a transcoder to change into another format for use. This becomes theproblem needing a solution: How to accept one source of data, from theoriginal signal provider, and efficiently change it to multiple outputformats.

Conventional integrated receiver decoders (IRDs) can receive RF signalsand output digital media streams containing video, audio, and otherdata. An IRD is often used to provide a link between satellite deliveryof media and distribution of that media by cable, telecommunication, andother service providers. New distribution channels such as internet andmobile are creating new challenges for programmers. Currently,programmers rely on their partners to repurpose content but the marketfor multi-format processing is fragmented.

Currently, programmers may create and have to securely distribute manyversions of their content. Satellite programmers (ESPN, HBO, Fox) nowmust deliver their content to non-traditional displays, including thePCs and mobile devices. Each of these new devices may require adifferent format and resolution to be applied. Otherwise, theiraffiliate operators must use third party tools to transcode theprogrammer's content into different format/resolutions. This will now bedescribed in greater detail.

Media content, including video, audio, images and text are increasinglyconsumed by way of the Internet. To protect the rights of the contentholders, online media content is often provided to users on demand.Accordingly, media content may be centralized and require significantcomputing and networking power to be able to deliver a satisfactoryviewing experience to end users.

To deliver media to end users efficiently, networks must be capable ofproviding media content in a variety of formats to be consumed on avariety of devices. An example media delivery network will be describedwith reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example media delivery network 100. Devices inmedia delivery network 100 may be categorized into three classes, mediasources 102, media adapters 104 and media renderers 106.

Media sources 102 provide media content, e.g., audio and video data, ina specific format or formats and are capable of transmitting the mediacontent across media delivery network 100. In media delivery network100, five distinct media sources are illustrated as media sources 102for purpose of explanation. Of course any number of media sources may beused in a media delivery network. The separate media sources 102represent media sources that are either: a media source providing adistinct format(s) of media content; and/or a media source providing aformat(s) of media content for a distinct geographical area of mediarenderers 106. For example, one of media sources 102 may provideun-compressed streaming video content to all of media renderers 106.

Media adapters 104 are able to adapt an input format of media content toan output format for the media content. One example method of mediaformat adaptation that media adapters 104 may perform is transcoding.Another example method of media format adaptation that media adapters104 may perform is data stream switching.

Often, media renderers 106 are unable to render the media content in theformat or formats as provided by media sources 102. To address thesetypes of situations, media adapters 104 are able to adapt media contentfrom one format to another format. In particular, media adapters 104 maytranscode the media content from the format as provided by media sources102 into a media content format that may be utilized by media renderers106. For example, a specific type of media renderer may be a cellularphone that can render media content that has been encoded under theMoving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) encoding standard, whereas a mediasource may only provide uncompressed media content data. To address thisexample situation, a media adapter may be able to transcode theuncompressed media content data as provided by the media source into anMPEG format, which may be utilized by the cellular phone.

As mentioned above, media adapters 104 may additionally adapt an inputformat of media content to an output format for the media content bydata stream switching. In particular, media adapters 104 may be able toreceive multiple data streams of media content and output a smallernumber of streams. For example, a media adapter of media adapters 104may be able to receive a first data stream from one media source and toreceive a second data stream from another media source. In thissituation, the media adapter may be arranged to output one of the twodata streams. The output format may then be usable by other mediaadapters or by specific media renderers 106.

In media delivery network 100, nine distinct media adapters areillustrated as media adapters 104 for purpose of explanation. Of courseany number of media adapters may be used in a media delivery network.

Media renderers 106 are devices capable of playing media content frommedia sources 102 for end users. For example, a specific type of mediaadapter may be operable to receive streaming video data and outputcorresponding MPEG encoded video data. In media delivery network 100,four distinct media renderers are illustrated as media renderers 106 forpurpose of explanation. Of course any number of media renderers may beused in a media delivery network. The separate media renderers 106represent media renderers that are either: a media renderers operable toreceive a distinct format(s) of media content; and/or a number of mediarenderer, within a distinct geographical area, that are operable toreceive a format(s) of media content. For example, media sources 102 mayprovide un-compressed streaming video content to all of media renderers106.

Media delivery network 100 is a conventional three-tier adaptationorganization; a first tier of media sources, a second tier of mediaadaptors and a final tier of media renderers. Of course the second tierof media adaptors may have many levels of adapters, wherein a top leveladaptor may change a format received by a media source to a new format,which is then changed to another format by another media adaptor at alower level, which is then changed to yet another format by yet anothermedia adapter at a yet lower level, and so on. For purposes ofexplanation however, this multi-level scheme of adapters will beconsidered a single tier in the conventional three-tier adaptationorganization of media delivery network 100. The media content isprovided through one of media sources 102, which may be located in acluster of media servers, or even in different physical locations. Anadaptation operation is executed through media adapters 104, each ofwhich is capable of reshaping the media content into certain adaptedformats. The destination of the adapted media content is a network ofmedia renderers 106 with diverse types of devices. This generic scenarioapplies to various types of applications such as classic media streamingthrough Internet, digital home as described by digital linked networkalliance (DLNA) and pervasive peer-to-peer media communication asdescribed by universal plug and play (UPNP) forum.

An example transmission of media content will now be described.

A media source 108 contains a specified media content requested by amedia renderer 910. Media source 108 outputs the specified media contentto media adapters 104, which modify the media content so that mediarenderer 910 may efficiently receive and display the specified mediacontent from media source 108.

In a conventional system, there are many users using many mediarenderers 106 in media delivery network 100. As more users request mediacontent over media delivery network 100, the demand on media sources 102and media adapters 104 becomes larger. Eventually, demand may surpassthe amount of content that media delivery network 100 is capable ofproviding. In such a case at least one media renderer would not be ableto render media.

There are many inefficiencies inherent in the present ad hoc approach totranscoding broadcast transmissions into multiple formats.

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art transcoding system 200.

As illustrated in the figure, transcoding system 200 includes atranscoder 204, a transcoder 206, a transcoder 208 and a transcoder 210.

Transcoder 204, transcoder 206, transcoder 208 and transcoder 210 arearranged to receive signal 202.

Transcoder 204, transcoder 206, transcoder 208 or transcoder 210 acceptssignal 202. For example, signal 202 may be provided by a cable orsatellite provider. This signal may be in any one of a number of knownformats, each of which includes: a specific type of encoding, such asMPEG, PDA, cellphone or high definition television; and a specificgeographical distribution, for example to what area of destination thesignal is to be transmitted. For purposes of discussion, assume thatsignal 202 is in high definition format, for distribution throughout theUnited States.

Each of transcoder 204, transcoder 206, transcoder 208 and transcoder210 is capable of reformatting the signal 202 into another format. Forexample, assume that transcoder 204 is capable of transcoding highdefinition television format into standard definition format, fordistribution throughout the United States. Assume that transcoder 206 iscapable of transcoding the high definition television format into MPEGformat, to the west coast of the United States. Assume that transcoder208 is capable of transcoding the high definition television format intoPDA format, to the East coast of the United States. Assume thattranscoder 210 is capable of transcoding the high definition televisionformat into cellphone format, to the state of New York. Theappropriately reformatted signal from an individual transcoder is outputas signal 212, 214, 216 or 218.

In operation, presume that service provider signal 202 is in highdefinition television format. Signal 202 is received by transcoder 204,transcoder 206, transcoder 208 and transcoder 210, where it is decoded,including instructions for an output signal type. After transcoding, anewly formatted signal is output to an end user as one of signal 212,signal 214, signal 216 or signal 218.

The shortcoming of prior art transcoding system 200 is that serviceprovider signal 202 can only be sent to one transcoder at a time. Giventhe complex requirements for multiple signal outputs, this is acumbersome methodology.

What is needed is a system and method for efficiently transcoding asignal from one format to a plurality of formats.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a system and method for efficientlytranscoding a signal from one format to a plurality of formats.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a device isprovided for use with an input signal and a selecting signal. The inputsignal has a first format, and the selecting signal has a first stateand a second state. The device comprises a receiving portion and atranscoder portion. The receiving portion can receive the input signaland output a received signal. The transcoder portion is arranged toreceive the selecting signal and can output a first transcoded signalwhen the selecting signal is in the first state and can output a secondtranscoded signal when the selecting signal is in the second state. Thefirst transcoded signal is based on the received signal and is in asecond format. The second transcoded signal is based on the receivedsignal and is in a third format, wherein the first format is differentfrom the second format, the first format is different from the thirdformat and the second format is different from the third format.

Additional advantages and novel features of the invention are set forthin part in the description which follows, and in part will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the followingor may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of theinvention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalitiesand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthe specification, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional media network;

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art transcoding system;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example transcoder in accordance with an aspect ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example transcoder in accordance with an aspect ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example transcoder portion 406 in accordance withan aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods in accordance with aspects of the present inventioncombine several well understood features of IRDs, remote authentication,and multi-format transcoding to enable programmers to use IRDs in a newway. Specifically, systems and methods in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention enable programmers to control video quality and accessto programming, and provide a way of consolidating and simplifyingdistribution, while using a conditional access method that they haveused for years.

A device in accordance with aspects of the present invention includes anintegrated receiver decoder (IRD) operable to support output of multipleformats that can be different than the input format. Instead of theprogrammer authoring and then securely delivering multiple versions ofthe same content, they could instead deliver their content only once asa superset of resolution/format, and have a downstream device, undertheir control, transcode this content to multiple formats/resolutions asrequired.

Programmers can employ a system and method in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention with their traditional HD distribution systems,deploying enhanced transcoder IRDs with storage that are fully undertheir command and control. The transcoded content can then be securelydistributed to new distribution pipes. A system and method in accordancewith aspects of the present invention may include storage and/orenhanced audio/video transcoding capability, which can be authorizedremotely by programmers to provide/distribute multiple format of theircontent for use by non-traditional display devices.

Additionally, an aspect in accordance with the present invention has aselecting signal that allows for the remote determination as to whichtranscoding portion to output the decoded service provider signal. Indoing so, a service provider signal in one format can be transcoded andoutput in a plurality of different formats.

Further, an aspect in accordance with the present invention has aprogramming signal that allows for the remote programming of thetranscoding portion to output a desired decoded service provider signal.In doing so, a service provider signal in one format can be transcodedand output in a plurality of new formats.

Example embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3 through FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example transcoder 300 in accordance with anaspect of the present invention.

As illustrated in the figure, transcoder 300 receives signal 202 andoutputs at least one of transcoded signal 306, transcoded signal 308,transcoded signal 310 and transcoded signal 312.

Transcoder 302 is arranged to receive service provider signal 202.

In operation, presume that service provider signal 202 is in highdefinition format, for distribution throughout the United States. Inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention, signal 202 isreceived by transcoder 302, where it uses the selecting signal 304 todetermine the output signal type. From here transcoded signal 306 isoutput as one format, transcoded signal 308 is output as another format,transcoded signal 310 is output as yet another format and transcodedsignal 312 is output as still another format. Again, the formats may bedistinguished by: a specific type of encoding, such as MPEG, PDA,cellphone or high definition television; and a specific geographicaldistribution, for example to what area of destination the signal is tobe transmitted. Further, more than one of transcoded signal 306,transcoded signal 308, transcoded signal 310 and transcoded signal 312may be the same format to account for an increased demand for aparticular format.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the serviceprovider signal 202 has a transcoder portion indicated for use by thecontent of selecting signal 304.

Example specific components for accomplishing multiple formatconversions are introduced below.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example transcoder 302 in accordance with anaspect of the present invention.

As illustrated in the figure, transcoder 302 includes a receiver portion402, a decoder portion 404, a transcoder portion 406 and a transmitterportion 408.

Receiver portion 402 is arranged to receive service provider signal 202and output a received signal 410. Decoder portion 404 is arranged toreceive received signal 410 and to output to transcoder portion 406 andoptionally to a data storage (not shown). Transcoder portion 406 isarranged to receive decoded signal 412 and to output a transmit signal414. Transmitter portion 408 is arranged to receive transmit signal 414and to output at least one of transcoded signal 306, transcoded signal308, transcoded signal 310 and transcoded signal 312.

Decoder portion 404 uses signal 304 to dictate the type of signalconversion. Signal 304 contains instructions as to what formats ofoutput signal are required. These instructions dictate to whichtranscoders the output signal 414 will be sent. Decoder portion 404outputs via signal 412 to transcoder portion 406.

Transcoder portion 406 receives signal 412 and changes the format ofsignal 412 from the original service provider signal format to thesignal formats determined by signal 304. Transcoder portion 406 performsoperations and outputs the signal via signal 414 to transmitter portion408.

In operation, presume that service provider signal 202 is in highdefinition format, for distribution throughout the United States. Inaccordance with aspects of the present invention, signal 202 is receivedby receiver portion 402, which routes signal 202 as signal 410 todecoder portion 404. Further presume that service provider signal 202,as required by signal 304, is to be transcoded into not just one outputsignal format but a plurality output signal formats. A system inaccordance with aspects of the present invention may include a pluralitydifferent transcoder portions with the capability of transcoding oneinput signal, of one format, and outputting a plurality differentlyformatted transcoded output signals. For purposes of discussion herein,a non-limiting example embodiment will be described that includes fourdifferent transcoder portions with the capability of transcoding oneinput signal, of one format, and outputting four differently formattedtranscoded output signals.

Decoder portion 404 receives selecting signal 304. Decoder portion 404authenticates signal 410 against a list of rules about security and userprivileges. Here, several things can occur, data from signal 410 may besent to a data storage (not shown) for later use or signal 410 can besent via signal 412 to transcoder portion 406.

The state of selecting signal 304 determines one of a plurality oftranscoded output formats for transcoder portion 406. Transcoder portion406 transcodes signal 410 to the selected new output format andtransmits signal 414 to transmitter portion 408.

Transmitter portion 408 uses programmer's code to authenticate whetherthe downstream client is the correct client, as designated by theselecting signal 304, and whether the downstream client has the propersecurity clearance and protocols in place. The transcoded signal is thenoutput to the downstream client's receiver via one of signal 306, signal308, signal 310 or signal 312.

An example transcoder in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention will now be discussed.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example transcoder portion 406 in accordance withan aspect of the present invention.

As illustrated in the figure, transcoder portion 406 includes a selector502, a transcoding portion 504, a transcoding portion 506, a transcodingportion 508 and a transcoding portion 510, and an authenticator 428.

Selector 502 is arranged to receive the signal from decoder portion 404.Individual transcoding portions 504, 506, 508 and 510 are arranged toreceive the signal from selector 502. Authenticator 428 is arranged toreceive the signal from any of transcoding portions 504, 506, 508 or510.

Selector 502 receives signal 412 from decoder portion 404. Selector 502selects transcoding portion 504, 506, 508 or 510 based on signal 304.For example, signal 304 may be provided as a state signal by theoperator of transcoder 300, e.g., a cable or satellite provider, or maybe provided by the content provider. For purposes of discussion, presumethat signal 304 is provided by the operator of transcoder 300 and is afour bit binary signal, wherein the first bit corresponds to transcodingportion 504, the second bit corresponds to transcoding portion 506, thethird bit corresponds to transcoding portion 508 and the fourth bitcorresponds to transcoding portion 510. Each of the four bits will beused to enable one of transcoding portion 504, 506, 508 or 510,respectively. In other embodiments, if more transcoding portions areused, additional bits may be needed for signal 304.

Signal 412 may be in any one of a number of known formats. For purposesof discussion assume that the signal is in high definition format, fordistribution throughout the United States. Each of transcoding portion504, transcoding portion 506, transcoding portion 508 and transcodingportion 510 is capable of reformatting signal 412 into another format.For example, presume that transcoding portion 504 is capable oftranscoding high definition television format into standard definitionformat, for distribution throughout the United States. Presume thattranscoding portion 506 is capable of transcoding the high definitiontelevision format into MPEG format, to the west coast of the UnitedStates. Presume that transcoding portion 508 is capable of transcodingthe high definition television format into PDA format, to the East coastof the United States. Presume that transcoding portion 510 is capable oftranscoding the high definition television format into cellphone format,to the state of New York. The reformatted signals from individualtranscoding portions are output via at least signals 522, 524, 526 and528 to authenticator 512. Authenticator 512 outputs the signals totransmitter portion 408.

In operation, signal 412 is the output signal from decoder portion 404.This signal is received by transcoder 406, whose function is broken downinto components in FIG. 5.

Inside transcoder 406, the signal is read and selector 502 uses theinput from selecting signal 304 to determine the required output format.The signal is then sent via output signal 514, 516, 518 or 520 to theappropriate portion. Transcoding portion 504, 506, 508 or 510 transcodesthe signal as required. The transcoded signal is then output via signal522, 524, 526 or 528 to authenticator 512.

Authenticator 512 authenticates the signal as to downstream receiverprivileges and security issues. The signal is then output to thetransmitter portion 408.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each oftranscoding portions 504, 506, 508 and 510 may be remotely programmed.In particular, the operator of transcoder 300 may provide: programmingsignal 530 to trancoding portion 504 to enable transcoding portion 504to transcode output signal 514 to a new format that is different thanthe format of signal 522; programming signal 532 to trancoding portion506 to enable transcoding portion 506 to transcode output signal 516 toa new format that is different than the format of signal 524;programming signal 534 to trancoding portion 508 to enable transcodingportion 508 to transcode output signal 518 to a new format that isdifferent than the format of signal 526; and programming signal 536 totrancoding portion 510 to enable transcoding portion 510 to transcodeoutput signal 520 to a new format that is different than the format ofsignal 528.

With the ability to remotely program each of transcoding portions 504,506, 508 and 510, the operator of transcoder 300 may adapt its servicesto a changing demand. For example, suppose there is an instant marketfor the provided content in a format of a standard TV encoded schemethroughout the United States. Further, returning to FIG. 4, suppose thattransmitter portion 408 is limited in its capacity to dedicate atransmission of output signal 306, which corresponds to the transcodedsignal provided by transcoding portion 504, which provides a format of astandard TV encoded scheme throughout the United States. Now, supposethe instant market for the provided content in a format of a standard TVencoded scheme throughout the United States is more than that whichtransmitter portion 408 can provide through output signal 306. Inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention, the operator oftranscoder 300 may reprogram any of transcoding portion 506, 508 and 510to provide format of a standard TV encoded scheme throughout the UnitedStates in order to meet the demand.

Aspects of the present invention may additionally be used in an adaptivestreaming system. Streaming is the process of providing content to aclient device, and using a codec to decode the content. Adaptivestreaming is the process of seamlessly switching between channels havingthe same content, but with different resolutions, in order to maximizenetwork use in the face of changing network constraints.

For purposes of explanation, presume that a passenger in a movingvehicle is receiving and playing television content on a portabledevice. Suppose at time t₁, the portable device is receiving the signalhaving the television content from a channel having low usage, e.g., notmany other users on the channel, and having a high available bandwidth.In this case, the portable device would tune to the highest resolutionchannel having the television content. Now, suppose at time t₂, theportable device is receiving the signal having the television contentfrom a channel having high usage, e.g., many other users on the channel,and having a low available bandwidth. In this case, the portable devicewould tune to the lowest resolution channel having the televisioncontent. However, the content on the highest resolution channel and thecontent on the lowest resolution channel must be synchronized such thatwhen the portable device switches from the highest resolution channel tothe lowest resolution channel, the switch will be seamless to the userwatching the content.

An example transcoder in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention may be used with an adaptive streaming system. For example,returning to FIG. 3, transcoder 302 may provide a plurality of streamsof similar content with different resolutions. For example, transcodedsignal 306 may be television content provided at a low resolution,whereas transcoded signal 308 may be the same television content at ahigh resolution. In this situation, transcoder 302 would assure thattranscoded signal 306 and transcoded signal 308 are synchronized. Assuch, if a receiving device were to switch from receiving transcodedsignal 306 to receiving transcoded signal 308, the switch would appearseamless.

Some or all of the operations of the elements set forth in FIGS. 3-5 maybe contained as a utility, program, or subprogram, in any desiredcomputer readable storage medium. In addition, the operations may beembodied by computer programs, which can exist in a variety of formsboth active and inactive. For example, they may exist as softwareprogram(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, objectcode, executable code or other formats. Any of the above may be embodiedon a computer readable storage medium, which include storage devices.Exemplary computer readable storage media include conventional computersystem RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and magnetic or optical disks or tapes.Concrete examples of the foregoing include distribution of the programson a CD ROM or via Internet download. It is therefore to be understoodthat any electronic device capable of executing the above-describedfunctions may perform those functions enumerated above.

Prior art as shown in FIG. 2 had several disadvantages. It could onlytake in a signal from the service provider and one-at-a-time transcodethe signal and send it to a downstream target. Prior art provided onelayer of authentication for security, for the upstream sender, but didnot authenticate for the downstream receiver. The system was very staticand non-dynamic in use and severely limited user flexibility andefficiency.

In accordance aspects of the present invention several new featureexpand the flexibility and efficiency of use. The selecting signalenables a transcoder to be remotely configured for outputting any of aplurality of formats. A data storage (not shown) offers the opportunityto transcode a signal once, store it, then transcode it later into yetother formats. Finally, the second authenticator provides a set ofsecurity checks for qualifying the privileges and requirements of thedownstream receiver.

The uniqueness of the new technology lay in its flexibility, to receivea service provider input signal in one format, use the instructions fromselector signal 304, and output a signal as one of a plurality ofdifferent formats. Further, a transcoder in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention may be used to additionally provide adaptivestreaming services, by remotely configuring a transcoder to provide aplurality of streams of different resolutions of content.

The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments of theinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The example embodiments, as described above, were chosen anddescribed in order to best explain the principles of the invention andits practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art tobest utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isintended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto.

1. A device for use with an input signal and a selecting signal, theinput signal having a first format, the selecting signal having a firststate and a second state, said device comprising: a receiving portionoperable to receive the input signal and output a received signal; and atranscoder portion arranged to receive the selecting signal and operableto output a first transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in thefirst state and to output a second transcoded signal when the selectingsignal is in the second state, wherein the first transcoded signal isbased on the received signal and is in a second format, wherein thesecond transcoded signal is based on the received signal and is in athird format, wherein the first format is different from the secondformat, wherein the first format is different from the third format, andwherein the second format is different from the third format.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter portion operable tooutput a first transmission signal based on the first transcoded signalwhen the selecting signal is in the first state and to output a secondtransmission signal based on the second transcoded signal when theselecting signal is in the second state.
 3. The device of claim 2,further comprising: a decoder portion arranged to receive the receivedsignal and operable to decode the received signal and output a decodedsignal, wherein said transcoder portion is additionally arranged toreceive decoded signal.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein saidtranscoder portion comprises a selector, a first transcoder and a secondtranscoder, wherein said selector is arranged to receive the decodedsignal and the selecting signal and is operable to output the decodedsignal to the first transcoder when the selecting signal is in the firststate and to output the decoded signal to the second transcoder when theselecting signal is in the second state, wherein the first transcoder isoperable to output the first transcoded signal, and wherein the secondtranscoder is operable to output the second transcoded signal.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising: a decoder portion arranged toreceive the received signal and operable to decode the received signaland output a decoded signal, wherein said transcoder portion isadditionally arranged to receive the decoded signal.
 6. The device ofclaim 5, wherein said transcoder portion comprises a selector, a firsttranscoder and a second transcoder, wherein said selector is arranged toreceive the decoded signal and the selecting signal and is operable tooutput the decoded signal to the first transcoder when the selectingsignal is in the first state and to output the decoded signal to thesecond transcoder when the selecting signal is in the second state,wherein the first transcoder is operable to output the first transcodedsignal, and wherein the second transcoder is operable to output thesecond transcoded signal.
 7. A method of using an input signal and aselecting signal, the input signal having a first format, the selectingsignal having a first state and a second state, said method comprising:receiving, via a receiving portion, the input signal; outputting, viathe receiving portion, a received signal; receiving, via a transcoderportion, the selecting signal; outputting, via the transcoder portion, afirst transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the first state;and outputting, via the transcoder portion, a second transcoded signalwhen the selecting signal is in the second state, wherein the firsttranscoded signal is based on the received signal and is in a secondformat, wherein the second transcoded signal is based on the receivedsignal and is in a third format, wherein the first format is differentfrom the second format, wherein the first format is different from thethird format, and wherein the second format is different from the thirdformat.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: outputting, via atransmitter portion, a first transmission signal based on the firsttranscoded signal when the selecting signal is in the first state; andoutputting, via the transmitter portion, a second transmission signalbased on the second transcoded signal when the selecting signal is inthe second state.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:receiving, via a decoder portion, the received signal; decoding, via thedecoder portion, the received signal; outputting, via the decoderportion, a decoded signal; and receiving, via the transcoder portion,the decoded signal.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said decoding,via the decoder portion, the received signal comprises outputting, viathe selector, the decoded signal, wherein said receiving, via thedecoder portion, the received signal comprises receiving, via aselector, the decoded signal and the selecting signal; wherein saidoutputting, via a transmitter portion, a first transmission signal basedon the first transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the firststate comprises receiving, via a first transcoder, the decoded signalwhen the selecting signal is in the first state and outputting, via thefirst transcoder, the first transcoded signal when the selecting signalis in the first state, wherein said outputting, via the transmitterportion, a second transmission signal based on the second transcodedsignal when the selecting signal is in the second state comprisesreceiving, via a second transcoder, the decoded signal when theselecting signal is in the second state and outputting, via the secondtranscoder, the second transcoded signal when the selecting signal is inthe second state.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:receiving, via a decoder portion, the received signal; decoding, via thedecoder portion, the received signal; outputting, via the decoderportion, a decoded signal; and receiving, via the transcoder portion,the decoded signal.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said decoding,via the decoder portion, the received signal comprises outputting, viathe selector, the decoded signal, wherein said receiving, via thedecoder portion, the received signal comprises receiving, via aselector, the decoded signal and the selecting signal; wherein saidoutputting, via a transmitter portion, a first transmission signal basedon the first transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the firststate comprises receiving, via a first transcoder, the decoded signalwhen the selecting signal is in the first state and outputting, via thefirst transcoder, the first transcoded signal when the selecting signalis in the first state, wherein said outputting, via the transmitterportion, a second transmission signal based on the second transcodedsignal when the selecting signal is in the second state comprisesreceiving, via a second transcoder, the decoded signal when theselecting signal is in the second state and outputting, via the secondtranscoder, the second transcoded signal when the selecting signal is inthe second state.
 13. A computer-readable media having computer-readableinstructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions beingcapable of being read by a computer to use an input signal and aselecting signal, the input signal having a first format, the selectingsignal having a first state and a second state, the computer-readableinstructions being capable of instructing the computer to perform themethod comprising: receiving, via a receiving portion, the input signal;outputting, via the receiving portion, a received signal; receiving, viaa transcoder portion, the selecting signal; outputting, via thetranscoder portion, a first transcoded signal when the selecting signalis in the first state; and outputting, via the transcoder portion, asecond transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the secondstate, wherein the first transcoded signal is based on the receivedsignal and is in a second format, wherein the second transcoded signalis based on the received signal and is in a third format, wherein thefirst format is different from the second format, wherein the firstformat is different from the third format, and wherein the second formatis different from the third format.
 14. The computer-readable media ofclaim 13, the computer-readable instructions being capable ofinstructing the computer to perform said method further comprising:outputting, via a transmitter portion, a first transmission signal basedon the first transcoded signal when the selecting signal is in the firststate; and outputting, via the transmitter portion, a secondtransmission signal based on the second transcoded signal when theselecting signal is in the second state.
 15. The computer-readable mediaof claim 14, the computer-readable instructions being capable ofinstructing the computer to perform said method further comprising:receiving, via a decoder portion, the received signal; decoding, via thedecoder portion, the received signal; outputting, via the decoderportion, a decoded signal; and receiving, via the transcoder portion,the decoded signal.
 16. The computer-readable media of claim 15, thecomputer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computerto perform said method wherein said decoding, via the decoder portion,the received signal comprises outputting, via the selector, the decodedsignal, wherein said receiving, via the decoder portion, the receivedsignal comprises receiving, via a selector, the decoded signal and theselecting signal; wherein said outputting, via a transmitter portion, afirst transmission signal based on the first transcoded signal when theselecting signal is in the first state comprises receiving, via a firsttranscoder, the decoded signal when the selecting signal is in the firststate and outputting, via the first transcoder, the first transcodedsignal when the selecting signal is in the first state, wherein saidoutputting, via the transmitter portion, a second transmission signalbased on the second transcoded signal when the selecting signal is inthe second state comprises receiving, via a second transcoder, thedecoded signal when the selecting signal is in the second state andoutputting, via the second transcoder, the second transcoded signal whenthe selecting signal is in the second state.
 17. The computer-readablemedia of claim 13, the computer-readable instructions being capable ofinstructing the computer to perform said method further comprising:receiving, via a decoder portion, the received signal; decoding, via thedecoder portion, the received signal; outputting, via the decoderportion, a decoded signal; and receiving, via the transcoder portion,the decoded signal.
 18. The computer-readable media of claim 17, thecomputer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computerto perform said method wherein said decoding, via the decoder portion,the received signal comprises outputting, via the selector, the decodedsignal, wherein said receiving, via the decoder portion, the receivedsignal comprises receiving, via a selector, the decoded signal and theselecting signal; wherein said outputting, via a transmitter portion, afirst transmission signal based on the first transcoded signal when theselecting signal is in the first state comprises receiving, via a firsttranscoder, the decoded signal when the selecting signal is in the firststate and outputting, via the first transcoder, the first transcodedsignal when the selecting signal is in the first state, wherein saidoutputting, via the transmitter portion, a second transmission signalbased on the second transcoded signal when the selecting signal is inthe second state comprises receiving, via a second transcoder, thedecoded signal when the selecting signal is in the second state andoutputting, via the second transcoder, the second transcoded signal whenthe selecting signal is in the second state.